Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Hanmi Pharmaceutical Posts Record Operating Profit of 257.8 Billion Won
    Hanmi Pharmaceutical Posts Record Operating Profit of 257.8 Billion Won Hanmi Pharmaceutical said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday that its consolidated operating profit last year rose 19.2% from a year earlier to 257.8 billion won, based on preliminary results. Revenue increased 3.5% to 1.5475 trillion won, and net profit climbed 33.9% to 188.1 billion won. The company said the results were driven by steady growth in key products including Rosuzet, higher income from supplying clinical trial samples and technology fees from partner MSD, and progress in normalizing operations at Beijing Hanmi. In the fourth quarter of 2025, revenue rose 23.1% from a year earlier to 433.0 billion won, while operating profit jumped 173.4% to 83.3 billion won. Hanmi Pharmaceutical said it generated 1.0836 trillion won in sales from outpatient prescriptions alone, marking its eighth straight year as the top seller in South Korea’s outpatient prescription market. Rosuzet, a combination drug for dyslipidemia, posted prescription sales of 227.9 billion won, up 8.4% from a year earlier. The Amodartan Family line of combination hypertension drugs recorded 145.4 billion won in sales last year. Its China unit, Beijing Hanmi Pharmaceutical, supported the performance as annual revenue topped 400.0 billion won last year, the first time since its founding that it has exceeded that level. Hanmi Fine Chemical, an affiliate specializing in active pharmaceutical ingredients, posted 91.3 billion won in revenue last year. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 36.8% from a year earlier to 28.3 billion won. The company said fourth-quarter operating profit returned to the black on new contract development and manufacturing orders and expanded volumes for existing projects. Hanmi Pharmaceutical said it plans to launch at least one “flagship product” a year worth more than 10.0 billion won in annual sales, starting with Amoprel, billed as the world’s first one-third low-dose antihypertensive drug introduced in the second half of last year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 17:27:22
  • Freefall may be looming in Seoul as short selling mounts
    Freefall may be looming in Seoul as short selling mounts SEOUL, Feb. 05 (AJP) - “What goes up must come down,” the saying goes — and after a prolonged roller-coaster ride, Korean stocks plunged Thursday as heavy institutional selling triggered a sharp reversal. The immediate cue came from a retreat in U.S. technology shares. But the pullback was hardly unexpected, given the rapid buildup in short-selling positions and growing signs of speculative excess. Both the KOSPI and the secondary KOSDAQ tumbled nearly 4 percent Thursday from their previous day’s peaks, underscoring how quickly sentiment had shifted. The reversal had been foreshadowed by institutional investors’ readiness to lock in profits at the first sign of weakness. As of Tuesday, the balance of stock lending — widely seen as a precursor to short selling — climbed to a record 140.8 trillion won ($96 billion), up 24.5 percent from six months earlier, according to market data. In stock lending transactions, institutional players such as pension funds and insurers lend shares to traders, who sell them in anticipation of repurchasing them later at lower prices. The expanding lending balance suggests a growing number of investors have been positioning for a correction or seeking protection against heightened downside risks. Market volatility in early February has been unusually intense. On Monday, concerns over a potential hawkish shift in U.S. monetary policy triggered a 5.3 percent plunge in the KOSPI, briefly pushing it below the psychologically important 5,000 mark. The index rebounded sharply the following day, surging 6.84 percent to a record close, before extending gains on Wednesday — only to reverse course again. By comparison, Japan’s Nikkei 225 posted far more moderate fluctuations over the same period, highlighting the exceptional turbulence in Korean equities. Reflecting elevated investor anxiety, the VKOSPI volatility index climbed above 50 on Feb. 5, more than 50 percent higher than a month earlier. “As volatility widens and the market appears increasingly disconnected from economic fundamentals, investors are actively seeking hedging tools,” a market official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Yet products designed to profit from falling markets have struggled as the rally continues. Samsung Asset Management’s KODEX 200 Futures Inverse 2X ETF — the most actively traded inverse product — closed at 345 won on Feb. 4, down 38 percent over the past month and more than 90 percent below its 2016 listing price, leaving it trading at levels comparable to penny stocks. Other inverse products have also weakened. Mirae Asset’s TIGER Inverse ETF has fallen about 22 percent since the start of the year. Inverse ETFs move opposite to the underlying index, meaning their performance deteriorates when markets rise. When the KOSPI fell 3.86 percent in the following session, the KODEX leveraged inverse fund briefly jumped nearly 9 percent, underscoring the products’ sensitivity to market swings. Analysts say structural factors also weigh on returns, including frequent trading and retail investors’ tendency to react quickly to market headlines. Average daily ETF trading value this year has nearly doubled from last year to more than 11 trillion won, according to the Korea Exchange, reflecting heavier speculative activity. The Bank of Korea has also noted rising trading volumes in leveraged and inverse ETFs. “Participants in leveraged and inverse ETF markets, especially double-inverse products, tend to focus on short-term trades and are highly sensitive to external news,” said an official at a capital markets research institute. 2026-02-05 17:25:32
  • Asian stocks mostly down on US losses, Korean markets take a header
    Asian stocks mostly down on US losses, Korean markets take a header SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) -Korean stocks rode a volatile roller coaster downward Thursday on heavy foreign selling on global tech shares. The benchmark KOSPI tumbled 3.9 percent to close at 5,163.6, marking a steep pullback from recent record highs. The KOSPI 200 slid 4.2 percent to 757, reflecting broad-based losses among large-cap stocks, particularly in semiconductors and export-oriented names. Selling pressure was led by overseas and institutional investors. On the main board, foreigners dumped 5.01 trillion won ($3.43 billion), while institutions sold 2.07 trillion won. Retail investors stepped in aggressively to pick up a net 6.78 trillion won, although their dip-buying fell short of stemming the decline. The bullish sentiment was soured by overnight losses in global technology stocks. Shares of Advanced Micro Devices plunged more than 17 percent after issuing first-quarter revenue guidance pointing to a quarter-on-quarter decline. The weakness spread across the sector, with ASML down about 4 percent, while Nvidia and Broadcom each fell roughly 3 percent, dragging down global tech sentiment. Korean semiconductor and platform stocks followed suit. Heavyweights led losses on the KOSPI, with Samsung Electronics falling 5.8 percent to 159,300 won and SK hynix sliding 6.4 percent to 842,000 won, reflecting heightened sensitivity to global chip-sector weakness. Automakers and internet stocks also retreated. Hyundai Motor fell 3.1 percent, while NAVER lost 2.8 percent. Defense and shipbuilding names also came under pressure. Hanwha Ocean dropped 5.8 percent, while Hanwha Systems plunged 9.5 percent. Pharma Research tumbled 23.4 percent, marking one of the session’s steepest single-stock declines. Amid the broad selloff, solar-related stocks emerged as a rare pocket of strength. HD Hyundai Energy Solutions surged 16.2 percent to close at 81,900 won after soaring more than 25 percent intraday before paring gains. Hanwha Solutions also edged higher, rising 0.14 percent to 36,500 won. Market participants attributed the buying interest to improving prospects for the global solar market, supported by management comments pointing to stronger demand and pricing momentum in the U.S. solar sector. Sector-wise, losses were widespread, with only a handful of pockets showing resilience. Office equipment-related stocks posted gains, with the sector rising 4.37 percent, topping industry performance. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ mirrored the downturn, falling 3.6 percent to 1,108.4. Foreign investors sold 286.1 billion won, while institutions offloaded 539.9 billion won. Retail investors bought 903.4 billion won, signaling selective dip-buying in smaller-cap shares despite elevated volatility. On heavy foreign selling, the won weakened to 1,463.6 per U.S. dollar, down 3.1 won, or 0.21 percent. The damage was softer across Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.9 percent to 53,818.04, China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.6 percent to 4,075.9, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index held up, rising 0.1 percent to 26,880.3. 2026-02-05 17:18:31
  • KBO hits leader Son Ah Seop settles for one-year FA deal with Hanwha
    KBO hits leader Son Ah Seop settles for one-year FA deal with Hanwha This series takes a closer look at players and the issues surrounding them, drawing on interviews, statistics and career arcs. <Editor’s note> KBO League career hits leader Son Ah Seop got a harsh reminder of how cold free agency can be, settling for a one-year deal with the Hanwha Eagles, his original club. Attention now turns to whether he can rebound the way infielder Ha Ju Seok did after making a similar choice last offseason. Hanwha announced on Wednesday that it signed Son to a one-year free-agent contract worth 100 million won in salary. Son is set to join the Futures spring camp in Kochi, Japan, on Thursday. The outcome surprised some observers because Son has long been regarded as one of the league’s top contact hitters and holds the KBO’s all-time hits record. Questions also lingered because Son was a C-tier free agent, meaning a team signing him away would not have to send a compensation player — unlike A-tier and B-tier free agents. A club would have needed to pay only 150% of his previous salary as compensation. With Son earning 500 million won last year, that would have been 750 million won. The lack of interest is widely attributed to concerns about aging curves for Son, who was born in 1988. Last season, he hit .288 with 107 hits, one home run and a .723 OPS. The batting average was solid, but there were questions about overall offensive production (wRC+), power and defensive value. Designated hitter spots are typically filled by home run hitters, and Son has been viewed as a contact-oriented DH whose outfield defense is a weakness. Some evaluations also said his contact skills have slipped from his peak. His wins above replacement also drew scrutiny. According to the statistics site STATIZ, Son posted 1.21 WAR with the NC Dinos last season and just -0.05 with Hanwha — a disappointing figure given his reputation. That context meant Hanwha did not have to rush. The Eagles also signed Kang Baek Ho to a blockbuster free-agent deal worth up to 10 billion won over four years, giving the club leverage in talks with Son. Son ultimately accepted Hanwha’s terms and pledged to restart his career path, a move that recalled Ha’s situation a year earlier. In the previous free-agent market, Ha struggled to negotiate after Hanwha first signed infielder Shim Woo Joon to a deal worth up to 5 billion won over four years. Ha eventually stayed on a one-year, 110 million won contract (90 million won guaranteed plus 20 million won in incentives). Ha then delivered last season, starring at the plate and in the field as Hanwha finished runner-up. He also played second base and showed he could coexist with Shim. On the strength of that performance, Ha signed a salary deal for 200 million won this season, a 122.2% increase. Son and Ha play different positions — Ha can handle both shortstop and second base — but Son could still reshape his value if he improves his outfield defense and restores more noticeable offensive production. Given the changes Son faced after being traded from NC to Hanwha last season, the article said there is room for improvement this year. If he carries his offseason training into a productive season built on his contact hitting, his future evaluation could change significantly. 2026-02-05 17:18:00
  • KAI posts 2025 operating profit of 269.2 billion won, up 12%
    KAI posts 2025 operating profit of 269.2 billion won, up 12% Korea Aerospace Industries, or KAI, said Wednesday it posted preliminary 2025 revenue of 3.6964 trillion won and operating profit of 269.2 billion won. Revenue rose 1.7% from a year earlier and operating profit increased 11.8%. Net profit climbed 9.6% to 187.3 billion won, the company said. Fourth-quarter revenue was 1.4667 trillion won and operating profit was 77.0 billion won, up 34% and 82.7%, respectively, from a year earlier. KAI said orders rose 30.4% to 6.3946 trillion won, driven by the first mass-production contract for the KF-21, a second mass-production batch for a medical evacuation helicopter, expanded helicopter procurement by the Korea Forest Service, and exports of the FA-50PH to the Philippines. The company said additional exports of the FA-50PH and follow-on work such as an airframe life-extension program for Indonesia’s KT-1 helped secure a long-term revenue base of more than 40 years. Its order backlog at the end of 2025 stood at 27.3437 trillion won, up more than 10% from a year earlier. For 2026, KAI forecast revenue of 5.7306 trillion won and orders of 10.4383 trillion won, up 58.1% and 63%, respectively, from the prior year on a separate basis. The company said it expects revenue to top 5 trillion won for the first time since its founding, with the KF-21 moving into mass production after 10 years and six months of system development, alongside Light Armed Helicopter, or LAH, production. KAI also said it expects production stabilization for the FA-50PL for Poland and the FA-50M for Malaysia, and higher aircraft-structure exports as the commercial aviation market recovers. On orders, KAI said it will pursue the KF-21’s first export, expand additional exports and follow-on support for the FA-50 and Surion, and push domestic programs including a third LAH mass-production batch and a broader government helicopter market. Chief Executive Cha Jae Byung said, “Last year was a year in which we steadily advanced major development programs and diversified our global business, once again proving KAI’s technological capabilities and reliability.” He added, “This year, we will complete development of the KF-21, which the entire nation has long hoped for, and successfully carry out mass production and the first export, focusing all companywide capabilities on creating sustainable future value for South Korea’s aerospace industry.” KAI also said its board approved issuing 500 billion won in convertible bonds. It said 400 billion won will be used to prepare for full-scale KF-21 and LAH mass production, and 100 billion won will go to materials costs and advance component purchases to support on-time deliveries of the FA-50 and Surion (KUH) and strengthen competitiveness in winning orders. 2026-02-05 17:00:19
  • BTS comeback D-44: More than a show when Seoul pours its heart into the kings return
    BTS comeback D-44: More than a show when Seoul pours its heart into the king's return SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - A royal comeback. A literal red carpet for the monarchs of K-pop. A “concert of the century.” These are some of the phrases circulating ahead of BTS’s long-awaited return in March — a national-scale production that brings together state support, cultural symbolism, and the global reach of Netflix. The show, already being hailed as the cultural event of the year, is shaping up as a culmination of South Korea’s most powerful contemporary assets: K-pop, cutting-edge technology, digital platforms, ultrafast connectivity, and a hyper-connected fan culture — all staged against an iconic landscape where traditional heritage meets a forest of modern towers. On March 21, Gwanghwamun Square will become the focal point of this convergence, as BTS returns as a full group for a live event titled “THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG.” More than a concert, the performance is designed as a national narrative moment — blending history, pop culture, and collective emotion. Rejecting conventional stadiums and indoor arenas, the seven-member group has chosen the symbolic heart of the capital for its first group concert in three years and nine months. Framed by Gyeongbokgung Palace and its legendary main gate, Gwanghwamun, the venue is inseparable from Korea’s political and cultural identity. For fans, the choice signals an experience meant to be lived and remembered, not merely streamed. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and event organizers, the group is considering a dramatic entrance through all three palace gates during the 8 p.m. performance — a sequence that would transform centuries-old royal protocol into contemporary stagecraft. Under the plan, the members would begin at Geunjeongmun, the gate leading to the palace’s inner court where state affairs were once conducted. They would proceed through Heungnyemun, a transitional threshold between royal and civic space, before emerging through the fully opened gates of Gwanghwamun. From there, they would cross the Woldae, a ceremonial stone platform historically reserved for royal processions and official proclamations, toward the main stage. The route follows the palace’s historic ceremonial corridor — the path once taken by kings as they moved from secluded authority into public view. In Joseon-era terms, it marked the extension of royal power into civic life. In today’s setting, it reimagines that procession as a shared cultural ritual between artists and the public. As stage design and choreography take shape, the comeback increasingly resembles a carefully composed civic spectacle rather than a conventional concert. Geography becomes part of the performance, and architecture part of the narrative. The movement of seven performers through these symbolic spaces is already being read as an act of cultural storytelling. Even before the first note is played, the idea has ignited the public imagination. What began as logistical planning has evolved into a collective anticipation — a sense that this return represents not only a reunion of artists and fans, but a moment when modern pop culture aligns seamlessly with historical memory. That expectation has spilled rapidly onto social media, where fans at home and abroad are reacting to both the scale of the production and its symbolism. For many, the March event is no longer just a concert. It is being framed as a national showcase — a declaration of how Korea’s past, present, and digital future can converge on one stage. Fans were quick to respond on X (formerly Twitter). One South Korean fan wrote: "Wow… to think BTS's comeback performance will happen here. I don't even know how the cameras will capture the full view, but just imagining this scene already makes me feel emotional…" Other domestic reactions echoed the massive scale of the event, with some comparing it to national milestones like the 2002 World Cup. Comments such as "This feels like the biggest Gwanghwamun event since the 2002 World Cup" appeared alongside relatable remarks like, "I work near Gwanghwamun—please let me go home early that day." International fans viewed the announcement as a major cultural milestone. One fan shared a post on X: "#BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21st. As the FIRST EVER solo concert by a singer at this venue, BTS is poised to create ANOTHER milestone in cultural history." On Reddit's r/kpopthoughts, the discussion centered on the production value and the "return" narrative. One user wrote: "They are going to devour this. BTS are incredible live performers, the show is set at a historic landmark, and Hamish Hamilton is directing it. With media already expecting around 200,000 attendees—and an album documentary following a week later—this feels like a powerful return." Another international fan pointed to reports that BTS may enter by walking the traditional royal path once used by kings, describing it as the group's symbolic "return of the kings." That idea resonated with others commenting on Arirang TV's coverage. One fan wrote, "I think you are spot on with the 'Return of the Kings' idea… If anyone can meld past and present together, it is them." Another added that the plan would be "a cinematic masterpiece" that connects directly to "the spirit of Arirang—honoring endurance and history." As anticipation grows, so do concerns about crowd safety. Under a news clip posted by Channel A on YouTube, comments urged authorities to prepare for far more than the estimated 200,000 attendees. One suggestion to plan for "up to one million people" drew hundreds of likes, while others warned against repeating past crowd-related tragedies in the city. What turns the Gwanghwamun concert into a truly global event is its reach beyond the square. The performance will be livestreamed worldwide via Netflix, an unusual move for a K-pop comeback. Under a video posted by YTN, viewers reacted with excitement, with some joking about servers crashing and predicting a surge in new subscriptions. A documentary following the album's creation is set to be released shortly after the concert, positioning the Gwanghwamun stage as the opening scene of a longer narrative. Even the technical details of this era are evolving. On Thursday, Weverse announced the release of the BTS Official Light Stick Version 4, the first major upgrade in nearly six years. Featuring enhanced synchronization and a redesigned app, the new version is intended to deepen audience participation throughout the upcoming ARIRANG world tour. The announcement sparked another wave of digital reactions. On X and other platforms, fans expressed excitement, "OMG, new light stick?" and "Finally, a new version for this era," while others looked ahead to how the upgraded synchronization could shape the atmosphere of the outdoor stage at Gwanghwamun. For many, the new light stick is more than merchandise; it is a signal that this comeback is being built with a long-term vision. When the lights turn on at Gwanghwamun, some fans will be standing in the square while others watch from living rooms around the world, yet all will be sharing the same moment. It is a convergence of place, memory, and fandom. Long after the music fades, the echo of the night at Gwanghwamun will likely remain. 2026-02-05 16:51:59
  • KBO Hits Leader Son Ah Seop Signs One-Year Deal With Hanwha Eagles
    KBO Hits Leader Son Ah Seop Signs One-Year Deal With Hanwha Eagles KBO League career hits leader Son Ah Seop has signed a one-year contract with the Hanwha Eagles. Hanwha announced Thursday that it agreed to a one-year deal worth 100 million won in salary. Son said, "I’m grateful to the club for choosing me again," adding, "I’m joining camp a little late, but I’ve kept myself in good shape." He added, "I’ll do my best in my role so Hanwha can soar again in the 2026 season." Son is set to join the Futures spring camp in Kochi, Japan, on Friday. 2026-02-05 16:51:26
  • Snow-themed festival underway in Taebaek
    Snow-themed festival underway in Taebaek SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - A snow-themed festival is currently underway in Taebaek in the mountainous region of Gangwon Province. The annual festival, now in its 33rd year, kicked off on Jan. 31 and will run through this weekend. Against the stunning backdrop of snow-blanketed Mt. Taebaeksan, visitors can marvel at large-scale snow sculptures and engage in a variety of interactive winter programs. It would the perfect destination for anyone not quite ready to say goodbye to winter or for those who want to enjoy the winter chill while it's still here to stay. 2026-02-05 16:42:26
  • SKC says glass substrate customer demands are sharpening; expects ESS copper foil demand
    SKC says glass substrate customer demands are sharpening; expects ESS copper foil demand SKC said it is focusing on its glass substrate business, a key semiconductor material, as it seeks to return to profitability within the year. Park Dong Ju, head of SKC’s finance division, said on a conference call on Wednesday that the company will run its businesses with a focus on profitability to restore earnings and strengthen financial stability. SKC also plans to increase sales volumes of battery and semiconductor materials. For glass substrates, which SKC is positioning as a future growth driver, the company said it will improve product quality and yields to support reliability testing. SKC said glass substrates could be a “game changer” for the semiconductor ecosystem and that it expects to maintain clear differentiation and a technology gap over latecomers. On progress, SKC said its plant in Georgia was completed at the end of 2024 and that it focused on securing key technologies in 2025, with most now in place. It said it has completed prototype samples and submitted them to customers. SKC said customer requirements for reliability testing are becoming more specific and sophisticated because the product has no close precedent. It said commercialization is running somewhat later than earlier market expectations, but it will deploy a large number of semiconductor engineers to recheck its execution structure and speed up commercialization. In battery materials such as copper foil, SKC said a one-time cost of 316.6 billion won was reflected in the fourth quarter of last year, widening its pretax loss. To offset that, it guided that copper foil sales volume this year will rise 50% from a year earlier. SKC said demand from North America-centered energy storage systems is expected to increase, and it will prioritize operational efficiency based on a full-scale ramp-up of its Malaysia plant while serving key global customers. In semiconductor materials, SKC said it posted its best annual performance on demand for high value-added products used in artificial intelligence data centers. An SKC official said the company is targeting about 20% growth in companywide revenue this year from last year, citing higher electric-vehicle copper foil sales to customers in Greater China and an expanded customer base as applications for small batteries diversify. 2026-02-05 16:30:00
  • Frigid weather to linger despite springs arrival
    Frigid weather to linger despite spring's arrival SEOUL, February 5 (AJP) - A cold wave advisory was issued for Seoul and surrounding metropolitan areas on Thursday. The advisory, issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration, takes effect at 9 p.m., as freezing temperatures are expected overnight. After a brief spell of balmy weather just a day after Ipchun, the official start of spring by the lunar calendar, Seoul is expected to see morning lows plunge to -12 degrees Celsius on Friday, with the fresh cold snap lingering through the weekend. Such an advisory is issued when morning temperatures are expected to drop by more than 10 degrees Celsius from the previous day, or at least 3 degrees below the seasonal average, or when the morning low is forecast to remain at or below -12 degrees for two or more consecutive days. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is working with some 25 local districts and agencies to prepare for emergency situations, while operating emergency shelters and other facilities as well as maintaining around-the-clock monitoring. 2026-02-05 16:22:17